Types of Alternative Fuel and Hybrid Vehicles

There is an impressive array of alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles currently on the market and in development. They fall into the following categories:

1. Flex-Fuel Vehicles
2. Propane/Natural Gas Powered Vehicles
3. Biodiesel Powered Vehicles
4. Hybrid Electric Vehicles
5. Fully Electric Vehicles
6. Fuel Cell Vehicles

Each type has its own unique advantages and disadvantages that should be considered before you buy an alternative fuel or hybrid vehicle. These factors are discussed below.

Flex-Fuel Vehicles

This is the most common type of alternative fuel vehicle on the road today. A flex-fuel vehicle can run on normal gasoline or E85, an 85 percent ethanol 15 per cent gas mix available at many fueling stations across the country. In the current climate of high gas prices, E85 sells for up to $2 a gallon cheaper than normal gasoline. Many consumers don’t even know if their current vehicle is a flex-fuel vehicle or not. Check your owner’s manual if you are unsure. 

Converting your current vehicle to flex-fuel is possible, but consider that for saving $1.20 a gallon (the price of ethanol E85 vs. normal gasoline), you’d have to put on quite a few miles in a year to justify the $5,000 - $10,000 expense. Consult with your mechanic to find someone who can do a conversion, and make sure they are officially licensed by the Environmental Protection Agency (”EPA”) to do conversions.

Also consider emissions before you buy a flex-fuel vehicle or convert to flex-fuel. While ethanol blended gasoline emits less carbon monoxide, a major contributor to global warming, studies have shown that toxic aldehyde emissions are greater. Some major periodicals, such as National Geographic, have postulated that the emission balance is the same for an ethanol burning vehicle as it just emits a different type of greenhouse gas, and when you consider the petroleum used to produce corn (fertilizer, tractor and transportation fuel), net ethanol emissions are actually higher than normal gas. This is still an open debate, however.

Propane/Natural Gas Powered Vehicles

Propane and natural gas powered internal combustion engines first became popular in the U.S. during the 1970s, the last time we had an oil crisis in this country. Since then, the price of natural gas has skyrocketed, making an alternative fuel that was once much cheaper than gas about as expensive or even a little more so.

The primary advantage of natural gas vehicles is reduced emissions. They produce 90 percent less carbon monoxide and 25 percent less carbon dioxide than traditional gasoline powered engines without sacrificing power or acceleration. Converting your current gas powered vehicle is relatively easy. In general, a natural gas powered vehicle is ideal for those whose primary concern is air quality and emissions, since the primary fuel, natural gas, is not any cheaper than gasoline these days.

Biodiesel Powered Vehicles

The beauty of biodiesel as an alternative fuel is that it doesn’t require any modifications to your current diesel engine. The only thing you may want to do is change the fuel filter after the first 1,000 miles after switching to biodiesel. Biodiesel is rendered from vegetable oils and animal fat and is produced domestically in the United States. It burns much cleaner than normal diesel and in some instances may be cheaper as well. The hardest thing is finding a fueling station that sells biodiesel.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles

Hybrid electric vehicles run on a combination of electricity and gasoline, greatly increasing your fuel economy. The gasoline engine is used to recharge the car’s batteries when they are depleted, and the electric engine is used to save gasoline when the car is moving slowly or idling. They typically have the same power and range as a traditional diesel or gas powered vehicle. There are several hybrid models on the market currently, with many more in development, including plug-in hybrid electric cars that will allow you to recharge the vehicle’s batteries directly from the power grid, thus increasing fuel efficiency even more.  Before investing in a hybrid vehicle, consider the costs and benefits.  Hybrids are typically $3,000 to $8,000 more expensive than the normal gasoline powered model. Also keep in mind that many improved models are going to be available in five to ten years.

Fully Electric Vehicles

Fully electric vehicles produce no emissions, though producing electricity does, so they are not 100 percent clean. Even so, they are far cleaner and cheaper to operate than any other alternative fuel or hybrid vehicle out there. The main disadvantages of an electric car are reduced range, acceleration, and power.

There are several types of Low Speed Vehicles (LSVs) that are fully electric and available for purchase, including the Zenn electric car. These vehicles are designed for neighborhood or urban environments and are a great alternative if you need cheap transportation where the speed limit is generally 30 miles per hour or less.

There is no mass produced fully electric vehicle currently available on the market that can match the range, acceleration, and power of the modern gasoline powered vehicle. Several are in development and will be available in the coming years.

An exception to this is the 2008 Tesla Roadster, a high-end sports car that is fully electric and will be seen on the streets (probably mostly around Hollywood) in 2009. The engineering on this car is really impressive, with a 220 mile range, 0 to 60 miles per hour acceleration in 3.9 seconds, and all the bells and whistles of a Ferrari or Porsche. However, this vehicle starts at $160,000 (after your $5,000 rebate), so mass production is unlikely.

Truly affordable fully electric vehicles will still encounter the disadvantages stated above for the forseeable future. That does not discount their value once they become available to the average American consumer.

Fuel Cell Vehicles

Vehicles using a hydrogen fuel cell are still in the early stages of development and are therefore a long way from becoming available on the market. Not only does the technology to power the vehicle need to be perfected, but the required infrastructure, namely a network of refueling stations, must be developed.

Hydrogen fuel cells use hydrogen to produce electricity that powers the vehicle. They are truly zero-emission since not even the electricity used to run the vehicle is produced with a fossil fuel. The only byproduct of a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle is water.

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